The Bulgarian government announced today it is conducting a large-scale search and rescue operation after drones attacked two cargo ships in waters off the coast of Byala.

A drone severely damaged the Togo-flagged vessel Alfa Watan, causing it to sink and all crew members to go missing. The Palau-flagged vessel Able caught fire, forcing 18 sailors to abandon ship; they were evacuated to Bulgaria's Dioscuria ferry. Rescue forces are currently searching for the missing Alfa Watan sailors in an area approximately 150 km east of Byala.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened an emergency meeting with defense, security, and interior officials following these incidents. This marks the first time cargo ships have faced attacks within Bulgaria's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Black Sea.

Turkey's Royad Mammadov cargo ship was attacked by a drone off Romania on 5/10. *Photo: Turkiye Today*

The perpetrators behind these attacks remain unclear. These incidents occurred one day after Romania announced that a drone hit Turkey's grain carrier Royad Mammadov, causing it to catch fire and sink off its coast and killing two crew members. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky subsequently accused Russian forces of using two drones to attack the Royad Mammadov while it was carrying corn in international waters. Russia has not commented on the information.

Location of the Black Sea. *Graphic: Geopolitical Monitor*

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began in 2/2022, has spread to the eastern Black Sea region in recent months. The Turkish Chamber of Shipping (IMEAK) stated last month that since the outbreak of hostilities, drones have attacked 226 civilian and commercial vessels in the Black Sea, with the majority occurring this year.

By Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters)